NORMAN — Heading into the 2024 season, there are no shortage of questions surrounding OU football.

The Sooners make their inaugural foray into the SEC, break in not only a new starting quarterback but two new coordinators, have plenty of unknowns across the offensive line and added transfers who will potentially shape the season at virtually every position group.

The Sooners enter the season ranked No. 16, though OU plays six teams ranked ahead of them during conference play, beginning with its SEC opener Sept. 21 against Tennessee.

Here are five key questions to the season for OU football:

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No question figures to frame the outcome of the season the way this one does.

The Sooners have had inexperienced quarterbacks at times in recent years, but it’s been awhile since they’ve had one this inexperienced.

Arnold no doubt has the skills to be a high-level quarterback.

But he also has started just one game — the Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona, where he showed both how good he can be and how far he still has to go.

Perhaps the biggest factor in Arnold’s success this season will be how well he’s able to protect the football.

If Arnold can avoid costly turnovers, OU’s offense figures to be in excellent shape.

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Arnold’s success will also depend on how much protection he gets.

The Sooners’ offensive line is no doubt their biggest question mark going into the season, as pretty much the whole unit from last season is being replaced.

The new-look group figures to consist of plenty of newcomers with experience — SMU transfer Branson Hickman is the likely starter at center and North Texas transfer Febechi Nwaiwu figures to start at one of the guard spots — but some of the talent figures to be homegrown as well.